Matthew 11
Jesus and John the Baptist
It happened that when
Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there
to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in the prison
the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to him, "Are you he
who comes, or should we look for another?"
Jesus answered them,
"Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:
the blind receive their
sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are
raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. Blessed is he who finds no
occasion for stumbling in me."
As these went their
way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed
shaken by the wind? But
what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear
soft clothing are in king's houses. But why did you go out? To see a
prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is
written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare
your way before you.' Most certainly I tell you, among
those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John
the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than
he. From the days of
John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and
the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law
prophesied until John. If you are willing to receive
it, this is Elijah, who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him
hear.
"But to what shall I
compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces,
who call to their companions and say, 'We played the flute
for you, and you didn't dance. We mourned for you, and you didn't lament.'
For John came neither
eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and
drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend
of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her
children."
Woe on Unrepentant Cities
Then he began to
denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done,
because they didn't repent. "Woe to
you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been
done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented
long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more
tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. You, Capernaum, who are exalted
to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty
works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have
remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be
more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for
you."
Rest for the Weary
At that time, Jesus
answered, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and
revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for so it was
well-pleasing in your sight. All things have been delivered
to me by my Father. No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does
anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom the Son desires to
reveal him.
"Come to me, all you who
labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn
from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart; and you will find rest for
your souls. For my yoke
is easy, and my burden is light."
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